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FreedomWorks in Philly on 9-29

With important legislation that affects Pennsylvanians pending during the fall General Assembly session, and the 2012 elections just around the corner, it's vital that the grassroots be united and connected.

That's why FreedomWorks and local Tea Party groups are hosting a full day of activist education and grassroots training in the City of Brotherly Love. Please join us September 29th at the National Constitution Center in the old city of Philadelphia, where we will discuss issues impacting Pennsylvania and the nation.

Speakers and panel experts will offer a free-market perspective on topics like energy policy, government spending and school choice. In addition, attendees will participate in a 2012 strategy session, a live demonstration of the online organizing platform FreedomConnector and an field hearing of the newly-formed Tea Party Debt Commission.

This exciting event is open to the public and tickets are just $10 at the door for the entire day.

For those not already using FreedomConnector, it is THE online hub for Tea Partiers. With this tool, grassroots activists that were previously dispersed throughout multiple social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter or NING can communicate with each other on one central platform to plan events, organize protests, get out the vote or just talk about freedom.

By pinpointing other users in a given area through geo-location technology, FreedomConnector encourages collaboration and strengthens existing ties within activist communities. It is a must-use tool for serious grassroots organizers.

Click HERE for a preview of FreedomConnector, or HERE to start connecting with like-minded folks near you.

As the recent hearing in the Texas legislature shows, the school choice debate is far from over. The Texas House of Representatives faces pressure from public school administrators and teachers unions on one end and school choice proponents on the other.

Last month's proposed rules on school accountability are yet another reminder that it’s time for federal bureaucrats at the Department of Education to get their hands out of our education system. In its latest power grab, the department seeks to enact top-down measures that would remove authority from the hands of teachers, school districts, and state government. The regulation would impose Education Department-mandated accountability measures promulgating federal government oversight over student and school achievement.

In a significant victory for basic law and order, a federal court in Wyoming Tuesday affirmed a basic constitutional concept: that the executive branch must comply with laws passed by Congress. Such is the power and unaccountability of the regulatory state that this counts as news.

Yesterday's proposed rules on school accountability are yet another reminder that it’s time for federal bureaucrats at the Department of Education to get their hands out of our education system. In its latest power-grab, the department seeks to enact top-down measures that would remove authority from the hands of teachers, school districts, and state government. The regulation would impose Education Department-mandated accountability measures promulgating federal government oversight over student and school achievement.

Governor Kate Brown of Oregon has just signed a bill (HB 2655) that would allow parents to opt their children out of the standardized tests that have come as part of the Common Core education standards in the state. Parents can cite any reason they choose for their opt-out decision, and the state is required to inform them ahead of time of their options.

One of the most exciting school choice options for parents just got a big boost in Nevada, with Governor Brian Sandoval signing into law the most comprehensive Education Savings Account plan in the country.

As Scott Walker tours the country on his campaign for the presidency, he has not forsaken his state, turning in a budget that would make important reforms in education policy. It’s beyond the scope of this piece to analyze the budget in full - it contains rather more spending and borrowing than most conservatives would like - but in the area of education reform it takes some pretty important steps forward.

Children are unique little snowflakes. Each one is different, with their own strengths, weaknesses and personalities. What’s more, they’re flexible, meaning that there’s not a single approach that works best for any given child. There are a wide variety of educational styles that can work equally well in molding a functional and successful young adult, right?

For the last several months, FreedomWorks has been part of a broad coalition dedicated to improving educational choice in Virginia. Over the last month, FreedomWorks activists in Virginia have made over 125 calls to targeted state legislators to strongly encourage support for HB 2238.

Democracy and Power 114: The Power Players
Who actually controls the force of government? Politicians and interest groups control the American political process. Special-interest groups – i.e. big business, big unions, education, seniors, and a multitude of others - seek favors: tax breaks, subsidies, exclusive legislation, etc. Special-interest groups give enormous amounts of money to political campaigns in order to receive gigantic benefits in return.